More tests for Central Lab, vows Palmerton superintendent

Classrooms planned for building, which once housed zinc company.

January 25, 2006|By Matt Birkbeck Of The Morning Call

Palmerton Area School District Superintendent Michael Michaels tried to assure jittery parents Tuesday that the planned conversion of the Central Lab building into classrooms will include another environmental test before the building is occupied.

Michaels, speaking during the school board meeting, said once the interior of the three-story building on Fourth Street in Palmerton is gutted, another round of testing will begin to gauge the building's safety.

Michael addressed the issue to "put to rest rumors," he said, that have floated in the days after last week's announcement of plans for the 28,000-square-foot building.

Those plans include transferring kindergarten and first-grade students from the S.S. Palmer Elementary School to the new building, along with administration personnel.

The lab building, which is now called the Palmer/Franklin Educational Center, also will have basement space for seniors.

Michaels said those plans were merely "concept" plans and "no iron-clad decisions have been made."

"We haven't worked out our plans yet," he said.

The building, which opened in 1918, served for decades as a laboratory for the New Jersey Zinc Co. before closing in 1996. The school board purchased the building last year for $350,000 and is prepared to spend more than $3 million for renovations.

Michaels, again rebutting rumors, said the building was never condemned, and reiterated that two previous environmental studies revealed no major contamination aside from asbestos flooring and minimal levels of mercury.

"We will demolish the entire interior structure and then do another environmental study," Michaels said.

Despite Michaels' assurances, some parents expressed reservations.

"Contamination is what worries me," said resident Robert Strahan Jr.

Strahan asked to see the two completed environmental studies, and the board initially discussed making copies available to the public.

"There's no secret," said Director Cindy Gasper.

Solicitor Steven Serfass said a single copy of each report is available for review at the administration offices next to the high school.